Saturday, May 5, 2018

Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston & James D. Houston



For sixteen years the Santa Monica Library system has held a reading program called Santa Monica Reads where one book is read and discussed by readers. In years past they have had fiction and graphic novels. This year they choose this true story of life inside a Japanese American internment camp.

The idea of the read is to gather people together reading one book and discussing it over a period 0f time.

 This year they made a better choice than last years’ graphic novel.

With the present state of political instability – Muslim fear—this book shows a true historical knee jerk reaction. In this case it was against the Japanese American’s who resided in the United States during the outbreak of America’s response to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

If this is to be one point discussed in the groups, the present-day concern about Muslims and trying to make a template out of what happened in the 40’s, I think there is very little ground to do that. You should not interpret events of history with twenty first century lens. Back then it was a president who wanted us in war and egged the Japanese government to attack us. Today it is just a reminder that we must be careful how we treat our citizens.

The story told by Houston is well written and easy to read.

Being taken from the place where you live to be placed in an interment camp located elsewhere brings about changes. It disrupts families and societies. This is a coming of age story that is also a historical reminder. History should never be forgotten.

History is people, not events. Yes, events happen but people are there. It puts flesh to the event.

This book is copyrighted 1973. The reason it is still in print could be because it is human interest.

It is published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt publishing company and the paperback retails for $9.99. See if your library has a copy.  

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